Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-07
The Venerable PhilanthrOpist Stricken
With PRr0lvals.

HIS CONDITION NOT CONSIDERED CRITICAL But
ANXIETY FELT ON ACCOUNT OF HIS ADVANCED AGE
WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY TO-DAY CHANCE OF HIS
PARTIAL RECUvERY-MEMBKRs OF HIS FAMILY Sun
MONED.
Mr.. W. W. Corcoran was stricken suddenly with
paralysis while dining yesterday afternoon at his
home, corner Of Connecticut avenue and q street.
Though the stroke was said to be slight one the
news, which spread rapidly, caused serious appre-
hensiOn on account of Mr.. Corcoran's advanced
age. Mr. Corcoran, during the day yesterday, ap-
peared to be enjoying his usual health. AS is his
custom, he visited his Office in the Riggs Bank
building during the day, and attended to some
business matters. Upon returning to his home at
2:3O O'Clock, he gave orders to his coachman to
have his carriage in readiness take him la ter in
the afternoon to Oak Hill Cemetery to attend the
annual meeting of lot holders
STRICKEN WHILE AT THE TABLE.
At O'Clock he sat down to dine with his grand
daughter, Miss Eustis, and his niece Miss Jones.
After spending some time at the meal Mr.. Corcoran
made an exclamation: "Who hit tne on the head?'
and at the same time placed his hand on the spot
where he said he felt as If he had received blow.
Mr. C0rcoran was about to proceed with his dinner,
left arm and hand were numb. His mind was
clear and he retained his sef-possesSion insisting,
La to e ee anxious inquiries OF t Inc youag
with him. At the end OF his meal Mi. COrcOran,
upon attempting to rise and go to an adjoining
room, found that his left leg was devoid OF all
sensation, and that he had lost control OF it. The
servants assisted him to the next loom and placed
him upon Sofa
THE PHYSICIANS SUMMONED.
Drs. N. S. Lincoln and ID. X. Hagner were sum-
moned. Upon the arrival OF the physicians Mr..
Corcoran was sitting up, ana chatted with them
about other matters than his own illness. His
mind was clear and he narrated Enthusiastically
the sensations he experienced at the table; The
physicians decided
attacked by stroke OF paralysis OF sensation, a
malady which does not interfere with muscular
action, but renders the parts affected numb. The
ply sic1ans administered an anOdyne, under the
influence OF which Mr.. COrcOran was soon sleeping
quietly. The news OF his sudden illness was
carried by messengers to Mr.. Corcoran's
relatives and immediate friends, and
Mr.. Anthony Hyde, his secretary and old
friend; Mr.. C. NJ: Matthews, who married one OF
MIR. Corcoran's nieces, and has long been OF his
Intimate friends; Mr.. c. n. Thorn and his Wife, who
Is ne1ce OF the venerable philanthrOpist; Mr..
rived at the house. MIR. COrcoran conversed
pleasantly with his visitors as II nothing had Oc-
CURED. Later In the evening, after Mr.. COrcoran
had awakened from his sleep his granddaughter
read a newspaper to him. The physicians held a
consultation at 80 o'clock, and their report then
Was hopeful. They found that the paralysis had
during the evening many persons called at his
house TO make inquiries and leave messages OF
sympathy.
QUIET AND RESTFUL NIGHT.
NoiCoi ptioSCu QUlct tlIIlC Adot
night under the influence OF a mild anodyne and
awoke this morning quite cheerful and no worse
than he was when the doctors left him last night.
IL was not necessary for the physicians to stay
during the night, nor were they called in at any
time after they left Mr.. Matthews and Mr.. Arthur
I. Brice remained with him during the night. The
only Others in the house besides the servants were
Mrs. Thorn and the other ladies OF the household.
Al no time during the night was there any change
III the patients condition to cause any alarm.
MR.. CORCoRANs CONDITION THIS MORNING.
When a reporter called at the hou e little be
fore 10 o'clock this morning the patient was re-
ported as doing very we'll, and the doctors had not
yet called. DR.. Lincoln whom the reporter found
slight one, and but for the patients age IL would
not cause any uneaSineSS. II was merely loss OF
sensation, while all the powers OF motion re-
manned, and when the doctor left him last night
he was listening to the news being read to him Dy
a member OF the family, and was in his usually
cheerful mood He takes the attack calmly and
seems not to be anxious.
WHAT THE DOCTORS SAID AFTER THEIR VISIT THIS
MORNING.
DR.. Lincoln and DR.. Hagner visited Mr.. Cor
coran at half-past ten and were with him for
about half an hour.
DR.. Hagner was the first to come out and he
told THE STAR reporter that they had found the
patient no worse. He is cheerful and his mind was
as clear as u bell, the doctor says. He is still
without sensation in his LEFT hand and leg, but
otherwise seems to suffer none. He moves his
arms and legs freely, but says that the one which
received the stroke feels II it did not belong to
him. The doctor said 1t was not by any means q
bad case but that they could not tell what to ex.
pect In such cases. He thought 1t remarkable
that the patients mind should be so clear and
active.
DR.. Lincoln, who came from the sick room a few
minutes later, said about the same thing. He said
Mr.. Corcoran did not seem at all anxious about
himself, but was asking after the health OF some
other OF the doctors patients. The doctor said
Mr.. CorcOran had rested well during the night
and that no additional bad symptoms had arisen
AttQrk 10 ncror ho
patients life unless 1t should be followed by an
other. But there is no telling In such cases at
what moment second stroke may come. There
are no symptoms now OF q renewal OF the attack
II no new attack comes, the doctor says, the pa
tient will get better. He is an old man, but mas
wonderful vitality. He may recover the power OF
sensation he has lost entirely or in part The doc.
tor has known OF cases where there has been an
entire recovery.
FINISHED HIS DINNER AFTER THE ATTACK.
When Mr.. Corcoran was first attacked he did not
pay much attention to it, and, after some remarks
about the feeling OF blow on his head and the
want OF sensation in his hand he continued with
his dinner. He was eating chicken, but his grand
daughter, Miss Louise Eust1s, who ran to him at
once prevailed upon him to stop; so he laid it
aside, but took something else and finished his
meal.
The family physician, Dr. A. Y P. Garnett,
being out OF the city, it was nearly
OF an hour before physician could be had. All
the While Mr.. Corcoran was perfectly cheerful.
were notified at once.
MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY NOTIFIED.
Miss Eustis telegraphed at once to his two grand
sons, George and Willie Eustis. George, who was
in New York, having left Washington only day
before yesterday, arrived with his wife this morn
ing. Willie was at Harvard college, and cannot
get here until this afternoon. He had just passed
his final examination in the Harvard law school
yesterday, and Mr.. CorcOran was asking the news
from him, and Miss Louise was telling OF his sue
cess when the old gentleman was attacked. Miss
Thorn Is nursing the patient, and Miss Louise Eus-
It's who is great pet with her grandfather, was
by his side all night.
CALLS AND MESSAGES OF sYMPATHIzING FRIENDS.
All during the day kilograms and messages Of
inquiry and sympathy have been pouring in and
many anxious callers have been to ask after Mr.
COrcOrans condition. A large number OF ladies
have called and have been received by Miss Eustis
Secretary Bayard, ex-kepresentative Barbour,
and Mr.. Jas. c. yelling were among the very
earliest callers in the morning.
HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE DOCTORS.
The doctors made only one visit to MI. Corcoran
to-day, the one spoken OF above, and arranged to
meet at his house again at o'clock this evening
Mr.. Corcoran in his conversationwith the physicians
was cheerful and seemed very much interested in
their diagnosis OF his case He seemed quite
averSe to the use OF the word paralysis to admit
TO himself that his was case OF paralysis. my
arm and hand feels numb,' he said to the doctor
raising his right arm, shat Is something like
paralysis is 1t not?" Dr. Hagner replied by asking
the question, ''yOu can move your arm eaSiIy?"
ooh, yes" said the patient moving his arm up and